IRS scandal seems to be losing its luster

6:45 PM,
Jul. 19, 2013

Written by

USA TODAY

When the IRS scandal broke in May, it looked, well, scandalous. An internal audit found that agency employees improperly delayed consideration of the applications for tax-exempt status filed by conservative groups, many affiliated with the Tea Party movement.

Republicans were livid, charging the Obama administration with abusing its powers. Democrats were defensive. And President Obama engaged in classic damage control: He fired someone, in this case his acting IRS commissioner.

Two months later, the story line of a political witch hunt targeting Tea Party groups is losing a good ...